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    Home » Recipes » Halloween

    Gummy Brains, Skulls, and Ghosts

    Modified: Sep 19, '24 · Published: Sep 28, '21 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Creep out your friends this Halloween by serving them homemade gummy brains, skulls, or ghosts. These homemade Halloween candies are fun to make in your favorite flavors and shapes.

    gummy brains, gummy skulls, and gummy ghosts.

    Making homemade gummy candies and gumdrops is so much fun. You can add your favorite flavors like green apple, raspberry, pineapple, cherry, grape, etc. There are so many options.

    You can also make homemade gummies using a variety of silicone molds.

    I'm going to show you how to create Brain Memorrahage Gumdrops that look like they have blood inside, white Gumdrop Ghosts, and skull-shaped gumdrops. They all use the same recipe but are made in different molds.

    Let's make some Halloween gummy candies.

    homemade gumdrops ingredients including corn syrup, baking soda, sugar, pectin, and candy oils.

    Ingredients

    powdered fruit pectin (not low or no sugar pectin) - I used Sure-Gel pectin. Some pectins, like Ball Pectin, have a brownish tint. You really want to use clear pectin when making these gumdrop brains and Sure-Gel pectin is nice and clear.

    baking soda - Baking soda will provide lift to the candies so they are airy and light. These gumdrops have the most amazing texture. They are softer than store-bought gumdrops.

    sugar - Use granulated sugar to make your candy sweet. You will also coat your gumdrops in sugar to keep them from sticking.

    light corn syrup - Not only does corn syrup add sweetness, but it also prevents your gumdrops from crystallizing and adds the perfect chew to the candies.

    flavored candy oil - I use candy oils to flavor my homemade gumdrops. Start by adding ¼ teaspoon of the candy oil to the hot gumdrop mixture. To test the flavor, fill a glass with ice cubes, then pour in some water. Dip a metal spoon into the hot gumdrop candy mixture then set that spoonful of candy into the ice water to cool for one minute. Once the candy cools, you can taste it to see if you want to add more flavoring.

    liquid food coloring - You will add a drop of liquid red food coloring to each gumdrop brain to make them look bloody inside. To make the ghosts and skulls white, add some white food coloring. Or you can simply leave them clear. They look great either way.

    Supplies

    Brain Freeze Molds (4 molds with four brain cavities) to make gummy brains
    Gingerbread men silicone molds to make gumdrop ghosts
    Skull and crossbones molds to make skull gumdrops
    optional, food handling glove to help with greasing your molds
    1 ½ or 2-quart saucepan, preferably a good quality stainless steel pan
    2 or 3-quart saucepan
    candy thermometer
    glass bowl with a spout or a glass mixing bowl
    skewer or toothpick


    You can find the supplies needed to make Halloween gummies on Amazon.com. I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using the links in this post at no extra cost to you.

    3Pcs 4 Holes Brain Ice,Ice ...Shop on Amazon Genuine Fred BRRRAINS Silic...Shop on Amazon HENGSONG Silicone Ice Tray ...Shop on Amazon Sure Jell Premium Fruit Pec...Shop on Amazon Karo Light Corn Syrup 32 Fl...Shop on Amazon All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless...Shop on AmazonTaylor Stainless Steel Cand...Shop on Amazon Fairly Odd Novelties Bone C...Shop on Amazon 2 Pcs Halloween Silicone Ba...Shop on Amazon Wilton 24 Cavity Silicone G...Shop on Amazon
    Gumdrop Brains - homemade gumdrops shaped like brains with red "blood" inside

    Let's start with the brains.

    These bleeding candy brains will make a killer addition to a food table at your Zombie party, Serve them alongside Cake Ball Brains, Hot Chocolate Bomb Brains, Stuffed Pizza Brains, and Zombie Candy Cups.

    I have a bit of an obsession with bleeding brains for Halloween. Although I love creating cute party food, when it comes to Halloween the more gruesome the better. These are definitely in the creepy Halloween food category.

    Cut open gumdrop brain showing a cross-section of red food coloring blood inside.

    I think it's really cool how you can see the ruby-red blood inside the clear gummy brain. Don't worry, the blood is just red food coloring.

    Instructions

    Fred and Friends silicone brain mold.

    Step 1 - Grease your silicone brain molds.

    Butter your silicone brain molds before you make your batch of gumdrops. I recommend using butter because the cooking spray will leave a film on your silicone molds.

    Making homemade gumdrops using pectin, sugar, and corn syrup.

    Step 2 - Make homemade gumdrops.

    1. Pour corn syrup and sugar into a buttered 3-quart saucepan set over medium-high heat.
    2. Cook until a candy thermometer reaches 280 degrees Fahrenheit.
    3. Meanwhile, in another saucepan bring water, pectin, and baking soda to a boil, stirring constantly.
    4. Once the sugar syrup reaches 280 degrees, pour in the pectin syrup.
    5. Stir constantly for one minute then remove it from the heat.
    6. Stir in the flavoring.

    These candies have a wonderfully soft gummy texture. If you prefer a firmer gummy candy, you can use my Gummies Recipe instead.

    Pouring hot gumdrop candy mixture into a silicone brain mold.

    Step 3 - Fill brain molds with the hot syrup.

    1. Set your silicone brain molds on a baking pan or cutting board that will fit into your freezer.
    2. Pour the gumdrop mixture into the brain molds, filling them about ¾ full.
      • You can top them off after you fill up all 8 brains. You won't have enough to completely fill the mold.
    Drop red food coloring into the warm gumdrop brains and stir it in using a skewer.

    Step 4 - Make the brains look bloody!

    1. Immediately, poke a hole in each brain using a skewer or toothpick that has been dipped in red food coloring.
    2. Swirl the skewer around a bit, spreading the red coloring around inside the brains.
    Un-mold the gumdrop brains and coat in sugar.

    Step 5 - Cool the gumdrop brains.

    1. Allow the gumdrops to cool at room temperature for 1 hour.
    2. Then, pop the molds into the freezer for an hour.
    3. Remove, and un-mold the brains onto some sugar.
    4. Coat all the gumdrop brains in sugar.

    The brains look eerily transparent without sugar, but they are pretty sticky, so I do recommend coating them.

    Gumdrop brains covered in granulated sugar.

    Step 6 - Storing your homemade gumdrop brains.

    1. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
    2. Do not refrigerate. They will become sticky.
    Translucent gumdrop brain on a pile of granulated sugar.

    What do you think? Could you eat a candy brain?

    If not, how about a candy ghost instead?

    gummy ghosts with candy eyes

    Making gumdrop ghosts.

    To make these gummy ghosts, start by greasing a silicone Gingerbread Man mold with butter.

    Then, make the gumdrop syrup and stir in a few drops of white food coloring if you want them to be opaque white. Otherwise, they will look clear.

    I actually used pectin that had a brown tint to it so my ghosts are not pure white. If you use clear pectin, your ghosts will look brighter.

    making homemade gumdrop ghosts using white-colored gummy candy.

    Pour the white gumdrop syrup into the buttered mold. Let the candy cool at room temperature for about 8 hours until the candy firms up or cool at room temperature for 1 hour then freeze for 30 minutes.

    Un-mold the candy ghosts directly into granulated sugar. Coat the candies completely in the sugar.

    Use light corn syrup to attach two small candy eyes to each ghost. They are ready to serve.

    Halloween gummies skulls and crossbones.

    Making gumdrop skulls.

    You'll do the same thing to make skull and crossbones gummies.

    Start by making the gumdrop syrup using the recipe below and then add white food coloring.

    making gumdrop skulls using a skull and crossbones ice cube tray.

    Pour the hot gumdrop syrup into a well-buttered skull and crossbones ice cube tray.

    Let the gummy candy harden for 8 hours at room temperature or speed up the process by freezing the candy after 1 hour.

    Unmold into granulated sugar and coat the entire surface of the candy.

    Substitutions

    homemade gummy worms, sharks, fish, elephant, dinosaurs, starfish, hippos, lions, giraffe, bears, and more

    You can use gelatin if you want your candies to be chewier. Check out my Gummies Recipe where I use fruit juice and clear gelatin to make gummy candies or my Homemade Gummy Candy Recipe where I use boxes of flavored Jell-O to make flavored gummy candies.

    Variations

    Grape gumdrop bats with homemade candy eyes.

    You can make grape gummy bats using grape gelatin.

    red, white, and blue gumdrop stars spilling out of a 4th of July pail

    Make gumdrop stars by coating clear gumdrops in colored sugar.

    homemade sour gummy bunnies with candy eyes, a pink sprinkle nose, and a black jimmy smile.

    Add citric acid to the sugar to make Sour Gummies.

    Be sure to check out all the Halloween recipes here on Hungry Happenings.

    Recipe

    This recipe was originally published on October 3, 2013.

    gummy brains, gummy skulls, and gummy ghosts.
    Print
    Gummy Brains, Ghosts, and Skulls
    Prep Time
    30 mins
    Cook Time
    10 mins
    Total Time
    40 mins
     
    Gumdrops made in the shape of brains with red food coloring "blood" inside
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gumdrop brains, gummy candy, homeade gummy brains
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 120 kcal
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    Gummy Brains
    • butter, to grease pan and brain mold
    • ¾ cup water
    • 1.75 ounces original powdered fruit pectin (not low or no sugar pectin)
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup light corn syrup
    • ¼ -½ teaspoon flavored oil, I used LorAnn Sour Apple oil
    • granulated sugar to coat gumdrops
    • red liquid food coloring
    Gummy Ghosts and Skulls
    • white food coloring
    • 40 small candy eyes
    Instructions
    Gummy Brains
    1. Butter your brain molds before you make your batch of gumdrops.
    2. Pour corn syrup and sugar into a buttered 3-quart saucepan set over medium-high heat.

    3. Cook until a candy thermometer reaches 280 degrees Fahrenheit.

    4. Meanwhile, in another saucepan bring water, pectin, and baking soda to a boil, stirring constantly.

    5. Once the sugar syrup reaches 280 degrees, pour in the pectin syrup. Stir constantly for one minute then remove it from the heat.

    6. Stir in the flavoring.

    7. As soon as your gumdrop mixture is ready, pour it into a glass bowl, preferably with a spout.
    8. Pour the gumdrop mixture into your brain molds, filling them ¾ full.

    9. Immediately, poke a hole in each brain using a skewer or toothpick that has been dipped in red food coloring.
    10. Swirl the skewer around a bit, spreading the red coloring around inside the brains.
    11. Allow the gumdrops to cool for 1 hour then pop the molds into the freezer for an hour.
    12. Remove, and un-mold the brains onto some sugar.
    13. Coat all the gumdrop brains in sugar.
    14. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
    Gummy Ghosts and Skulls
    1. To make ghost or skull gumdrops, color the sugar syrup with white food coloring after it has been cooked to the right temperature.

    2. Pour the syrup into greased silicone molds.

    3. Let the candy cool and harden at room temperature for about 8 hours or at room temperature for 1 hour then 30 minutes in the freezer.

    4. When firm, unmold the candies into granulated sugar. Toss to coat them completely.

    5. For the ghosts, you can add two small candy eyes using corn syrup as edible glue. Once recipe should make about 20 ghosts so you'll need 40 candy eyes.

    Recipe Notes

    Use Clear Pectin

    You want pectin that is white or clear-looking. I used Sure-Jell for this recipe. Ball pectin has a brown hue to it so I don't suggest it for this project.

    Storage

    Store your candies in an airtight container for up to a month.

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
    Latest posts by Beth Klosterboer (see all)
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    1. Anonymous says

      October 06, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Beth, how can I store these? Can I put them in the fridge without the powdered sugar while making more? I am making so many, I have to put them somewhere. lol Can I stack them with wax paper between? Again, these are awesome. Trish Butler

      Reply
      • beth says

        October 06, 2013 at 3:09 pm

        Hi Trish, I don't suggest storing these in the refrigerator. They will get really sticky. I would definitely coat them in granulated sugar (not powdered sugar) if you are making a lot. Once coated line them up in a single layer in large zip top bags. You can then stack those bags on top of each other in a larger box. Wax paper should work as well. Have fun! I hope you have a lot of molds.

        Reply
    2. keshakeke says

      October 06, 2013 at 2:35 am

      I love this! I would love your Halloween cookbook! How fun is it creating all of these fun Halloween things!
      keshakeke(at)gmail(dot)com

      Reply
    3. Melissa says

      October 05, 2013 at 4:51 pm

      I love creepy Halloween food. My son is almost 3 and has inherited the love of all things creepy. I am so happy I found this page!

      Reply
    4. Kim Kihega says

      October 05, 2013 at 8:06 pm

      I love creepy Halloween food. My kids love when we make stuff for Halloween!

      Reply
    5. Janet I. says

      October 05, 2013 at 7:43 pm

      I love creepy halloween food!

      Reply
    6. Charlene says

      October 05, 2013 at 4:23 pm

      Creepy food for Halloween is the best.

      Reply
    7. Charlene says

      October 05, 2013 at 4:22 pm

      I love creepy food.

      Reply
    8. mindy says

      October 05, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Yes, I do!

      Reply
    9. mindy says

      October 05, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Yes, I do!

      Reply
    10. Anastasia Fall says

      October 05, 2013 at 11:04 am

      I LOVE creepy Halloween food! It's fun and festive and puts you in the right spirit 🙂

      Reply
    11. Amy says

      October 05, 2013 at 3:41 am

      How wonderful that Sara Moulton gave your book a nice review. That's awesome!

      Reply
    12. Amy says

      October 05, 2013 at 3:38 am

      Oh yeah, I definitely enjoy creepy Halloween food. They are just so much fun...and creepy to eat. 😛

      Reply
    13. Catie says

      October 05, 2013 at 3:24 am

      I love creepy Halloween foods! I've been known to make some myself 🙂

      Reply
    14. Cuevas77 says

      October 05, 2013 at 1:56 am

      I love Halloween food, especially original ideas!

      Reply
    15. Cuevas77 says

      October 05, 2013 at 1:55 am

      Sara Moulton

      Reply
    16. The Partiologist says

      October 04, 2013 at 11:42 pm

      I would have to say you are the most creative person in the world when it comes to Halloween and creepy food
      This is probably one of my favorite of your creations!!

      Reply
    17. Barbara Bradford says

      October 04, 2013 at 9:47 pm

      I love creepy food.... this brain candy idea is awesome.

      Reply
    18. julie ball says

      October 04, 2013 at 9:31 pm

      Sara Moulton! 🙂

      Reply
    19. julie ball says

      October 04, 2013 at 9:29 pm

      I love Halloween food! 🙂 It's hard to decide sometimes which I like better - Halloween or Christmas... and the both have great food possibilities!

      Reply
      • beth says

        October 07, 2013 at 1:54 pm

        I love cute, classy, and creepy and think Halloween has become my favorite holiday, just because it's all about fun. Unless, like me you host a party for over 100 guests, there isn't usually much stress involved in Halloween. I love Christmas too!

        Reply
    20. Anonymous says

      October 04, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      Sara Moulton wrote a review for your book -- Sara Jelinek (sjelinek6@gmail.com)

      Reply
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    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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